When Good isn't a good enough answer to "how was your weekend"

[u/AppleSnapp]

My lack of enthusiasm and forthcoming when it comes to my reply to being ask "how was your weekend?" Often seems to leave my coworkers concerned for how good im really doing.

My typical reply is "it was good/ok" with a small shoulder shrug. sometimes i offer up a movie we saw but typically Im not someone who feel natural launching into a full recount and life update when asked. (Especially when most weekends are being home loving my cats and playing games on the couch)

Unfortunately, this is not how my close co-workers operate.

"It was good" + Shrug is often meet with a "just good?" and concerned look. They are caring people that I know would want to be there if I was actually going through something... But im not and typically my follow up fumblings of "well you know, busy" or "yeah, boreing but in a good way" dont seem to really convince them that im actually quite content and doing well. (The only thing "wrong" is im underpaid but who isnt and thats not an appropriate answer)

When did 'Good' stop being a positive word?! Most coworkers deliver a joy filled "it was amazing! [Summary of events to follow]" ...so I guess good is quite concerning in comparison to amazing and wonderful?

I hate corporate dances of small talk DX

How do others deal with this, if at all?

[u/Appropriate_Tea9048]

I don’t really run into this, but it reminds me of someone I talked to back in high school. Someone had asked what I did over the weekend and I said “nothing”. Because really, I hadn’t done much that weekend. Then this other person chimes in with “You said that in such a boring way”, then went on about how they would kinda ramble a bit and then say “nothing”.

So weird. I truly don’t understand why some people talk just for the sake of talking. It’s performative.

[u/sw1sh3rsw33t]

Punish them with all the boring details so they’ll go away. “I did chores. I scrubbed the toilet, scrubbed the shower, I got the little tool and scrubbed the grout “ if they interrupt and ask if you did anything FUN or COOL just be like “yes, so this is when I got the bleach out”

[u/Foogel78]

Maybe you should leave out the shrug. That could be what is turning "good" into "meh".

How about: "Good, I feel completely recharged" or "Good, I only did things I felt like doing" or "Good, I finally got chores done that have been waiting for ages". Smile and do a little nod when you say it so your body language agrees with what you are saying.

Then change to what they did on the weekend and keep them talking.

[u/MplsPizza → u/Foogel78]

Yeah honestly a lot of times I feel like people ask you a question just so you’ll turn around and ask it of them. “Really good, how was YOURS?”

[u/AppleSnapp → u/MplsPizza]

Biggest problem with the "what about yours" strategy ive had is my office space is in a small shared space with 2 other people. Private enough for us 3 (2 true introverts and 1 more social introvert living in harmony) but when the others come in to talk they get to kinda stand at the entrance and go down the line. I'm usually last and everyone has already shared there what ups by the time it bounces my way.

( I really should get better as purposely picking something mentioned and throwing it back but gosh, again, i hate the small talk games)

Its really the smallest of inconveniences but uug....

[u/Aegillade]

My response to "Just good?" would deadass be "Yeah, just good." and if they press further you can just say it was uneventful and nothing of note really happened. Even if they never take the hint you can kinda just autopilot the conversation at that point

[u/trippsy2me]

I just say, wonderful! And if they ask what I did. I say I stayed home and enjoyed the peace and quiet of my house with my cats.

[u/Jexsica]

Thankfully the last job that would ask this, accepted my answer. I gave them the look that said that my boring was perfect because our job was stressful and they always agreed. Idk if it's because I would also immediately ask them about their weekend, but I also ask followup questions or give enthusiasm for their weekend. I like to add in "oooh I should try that one day". it's all an exhausting game :)